Seriously, I really don't any more. Not when the current tour is producing stuff like this.
The surviving Beach Boys in an unplugged set at the Rolling Stone magazine studios on June 6 of this year.
You know all the songs, obviously, but the opening "In My Room" is, particularly, beyond transplendent. I'd listen to it under the headphones, if I were you, but barring that, crank it with decent speakers.
And I know I say this a lot, but -- words fail me.
Jeez. It doesn't sound real. Chills.
ReplyDeleteAmazing how they put this all together and are keeping it there. Sounds ethereal.
ReplyDeleteI've said it before and I'll say it again. I still don't understand why people think Mike Love is a dick. Legalities aside, he was and still is an integral vocal part of the Beach Boys sound, like him or not.
OK, steve, I'm not the Beach Boys fan you are but, damn, that In My Room produces chills.
ReplyDeleteYou watch these guys doing it and say, That's. Not. Possible.
Gummo:
ReplyDeleteI saw them at my old college at the height of the early 70s comeback.
The show started when they walked on stage, counted off and lit into "Heroes and Villains" It was jaw-dropping -- as if this perfect sound had just materialized out of nowhere.
Steve, have you seen them on the current tour? I saw them at the Hollywood Bowl last month and it was the best 50th reunion tour of guys whose voices have dropped off a bit but have one of the most amazing music legacies I've ever seen!
ReplyDeleteNot to damn it with faint praise, it was a lot of fun. Love's voice was actually a bit thinner and weaker than I expected, might have been the sound or maybe he was under the weather a bit. The parts where they sang along to vocals from Carl and Dennis were just a couple of the highlights.
Thanks for posting this!
ReplyDeletestuckinlodi no more
Elroy --
ReplyDeleteI was afraid the tour was going to be a disaster, plus the venue they were playing in NYC was the Beacon Theater, which has the consistently worst sound of any place in America. So I passed on getting tickets.
Wish I'd gone now, of course, but between the videos and the inevitable live album I'll be fine.
:-)
Wow, today is my birthday and must say this is the best present ever. Goes to prove when the voices are as melodic and beautiful as these guys, age makes no difference. Thanks so much. BTW, I used to be a "Surfer Girl"..Bwahahaha. Sweet memories.
ReplyDeleteSteve, there's always the 60th anniversary tour...
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed this, and I'm glad they're doing this.
ReplyDeleteThe flip-side of my enjoyment was depression.
They're not what they used to be.
Music isn't what it used to be.
Rolling Stone isn't what it used to be.
California isn't what it used to be.
Surfing isn't what it used to be.
The ocean isn't what it used to be.
And especially, it all reminds me that I'm not what I used to be.
Ouch!
I know exactly how you feel bbj. But cheer up!
ReplyDeleteSteve -
ReplyDeleteWhen you saw the Boys in the early 70s, did they do Jumpin' Jack Flash in concert? Mike sang it when I saw them at Boston College in 72/73.
Well, at least there was the Brian Wilson show at the Highline last year, with the Wondermints ... that was really great.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous -- I vaguely recall that Jumpin Jack Flash from a later show at another venue.
ReplyDeleteBut in 1971 at my old school, no.
On the other hand, at that show, Dennis had a complete drunken on-stage breakdown while introducing "You Are So Beautiful," and had to be escorted off stage by the other guys.
So there was that, at least.
:-)
I just wish Brian felt as happy as his music makes me feel.
ReplyDeleteTrey
I have the same wish as you, Trey, but I do think BW is in much better shape now IN his 70s than he was DURING the 70s.
ReplyDeleteDave, true dat! Your comment reminds me of this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RW8PFJTJJY
ReplyDelete(Warning, includes prominent Mike Love footage)
Trey
As someone who, almost 50 years ago now, spent a lot of time 'in my room' listening to that song (and all the others), I'm stunned that in their 60s and 70s they still can sing it with such power. Magnificent; thanks for the post.
ReplyDelete(Mike Love is hard to take — funny how all his years of meditating seems to have made him even more of a jerk — but what family reunion doesn’t have its annoying relative along with the many fond memories.